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DEAD AND RISEN 

THE 

EASTER STORY 

DRAMATIZED 



^« •*• **• 



IN SEVEN SCENES 
BY 

J. H. KUHLMAN 



V* V v> 



COPYRIGHT 1918 BY J, H. KUHLMAN 

Neither the Whole of this Drama, nor any Portion thereof can L* 
Presented without Permission- 






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Published By 

J. H. KUHLMAN 

Loudonville, Ohio. 



FEB 18 1918 

©CI.D 48946 



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PROLOGUE. MARY OF BETHANY 

MARY — (Enters, carrying a broken vase). 'Tis nigh 
unto the place called Gabbatha, the pavement, where is 
the judgment hall of Pilate. Is't here they have taken 
Him? (Looking right and left.) Have you seen aught 
of my Master? — Today, they say, He must die; and I, 
not knowing it, I anointed Him unto His burial. 

Never can I forget that night in Bethany, the night 
after the Sabbath. 'Twas in the house of Simon the 
leper — Simon, whom the Lord had healed on the Jericho 
road, saying to him, "Be thou clean!" and, lo, his flesh 
came again, like unto the flesh of a little child — In Si- 
mon's house we made the Lord a supper. Martha serv- 
ed, and Lazarus was there, Lazarus, my brother, newly- 
risen from the dead. Seeing him and Simon sitting at 
meat together, I remembered the word the Master sent 
to the Baptist — 'Twas Matthew told me — "Behold, the 
lepers are cleansed and the dead are raised up.." 

As I sat and pondered these things, these things that 
He had done for me and mine — Ah, then the fire burned 
in my breast, the fire of love. I fetched (going through 
motion) my precious box, my Alabaster box of spike- 
nard. Softly I came behind the Master, and, breaking 
the box, I poured the ointment on his Head, till it ran 
down upon his locks, like the dew that cometh down upon 
Hermon. Then was the house filled with the odor of the 
ointment, and my soul was poured out with the love of 
Him, so that I annointed His feet also, and loosing these 
braids, (goes through motion) I did wipe His feet with 
the hairs of my head. — 'Twas as Solomon says: "While 
the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth 
its fragrance." 

Then spake that son of perdition, Judas: "To what pur- 
pose is this waste? Why was not this ointment sold for 
three hundred pence and given to the poor?" "This he 
said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was 
a thief and had the bag and bare what was put therein." 
— To the end shall I remember, how the Master turned 
and looked at me — His eyes like the twin pools of Hesh- 
bon, deep and dark: "Let her alone," He said, "Why 



trouble ye the woman? She hath wrought a g-ood work 
upon me. Ye have the poor always with you, but me ye 
have not always. For in that she hath poured this oint- 
ment on my body, she did it for my burial." And then 
He said — Master, I am not worthy — then He said, 
'Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole 
world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done,, 
be told for a memorial of her." 

Lord, I am not worthy, but Thou, Thou shouldest re- 
ceive glory and honor. If the whole world were an Al- 
abaster box of ointment, and all the perfumes of Araby 
contained therein, yet would I break it, (motion) and 
pour it all upon Thee, Thee only, for Thou hast ravished 
my heart, O my Master, Thou hast ravished my heart 
with Thy love! — And now they say ? He must die. — Even 
now His words are made true, "Me ye have not always." 
"Lord, I would have Thee always, always!" — Alas! 
I sought Him and could not find Him. I called r 
but He gave me no answer. — Do ye know where my be- 
loved has gone? (Commotion back of curtain, cries, 
tramping- of feet) Harkf Is this the hour of His enemies? 
What meaneth the tumult and the shouting? — O Master! 
Master! (Curtain rises on Scene I.) 

SCENE I. BEFORE PILATE. 

(Pilate on the Judgment Seat, a soldier at either side. 
Annas, Caiphas, Levi, people at left. Peter and John 
at right. Also Mary and Mary Magdalene. While the 
curtain rises, priests and people cry, Crucify Him, cru- 
cify Him!," but John and Peter, and all His friends cry r 
"Hosanna! Hosanna!") 

JOHN — (To Peter) They have taken Him into the 
Judgment Hall. God grant that He be safe there. 

LEVI — (To the priests) Let us follow after into the 
palace, that we may accuse Him. 

ANNAS — Nay, nay, we cannot enter, lest we be defiled 
and may not eat the Passover. 

PETER — None so defiled as I. Come not near me. I 
am unclean — unclean! I have denied Him! 

PILATE — (Rises and proudly steps forward) (Points 



toward interior) What accusation bring ye against this 
man? 

CAIPHAS — If this man were not an evildoer, we 
would not have delivered Him up unto you. 

PILATE — 'Tis well. Take ye Him then, and judge 
Him according to your law. 

ANNAS — (With a snarl) Thou knowest, O Pilate, that 
it is not lawful for us to put any man to death. 

CAIPHAS — We found this fellow perverting the na- 
tion and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that 
He Himself is Christ a king. 

PILATE — What sayest thou? This Nazarene— this 
carpenter's son — standing yonder with bound hands and 
torn garments — He a king — the king of the Jews? — Ha, 
ha, hah! — The king of the Jews! 

ANNAS — Nay, not our king. Away with Him! We 
will not have this man rule over us. 

(Cries of "Away with Him! Crucify Him!") 

PILATE — Peace, ho! Pilate speaks. (They are silent) 
Priests and scribes, ye witness against this man, but I 
find in Him no fault at all. 

CAIPHAS — He stirreth up the people, teaching 
throughout all Jewry, beginning from Gallilee to this 
place. 

PILATE — Ye have brought Him unto me as one that 
perverteth the nation, and, behold, I, having examined 
Him before you, have found no fault in this man touch- 
ing those things whereof ye accuse H\m. No, nor yet 
Herod, for I sent you to him, and, lo, nothing worthy 
of death was found. I will therefore chastise Him and 
release Him. 

LEVI — Most noble Governor, hear me! Wilt thou 
this year also release at the feast one prisoner, whom- 
soever we desire? 

PILATE — (Aside) Ah, that may help me out. (To 
Levi) It shall be as thou sayest. (To soldier) Bring in 
hither the prisoner, Barabbas. (To the people) Ye have 
a custom that I should release unto you one at the Pass- 
over. Ye shall choose him this day. (He resumes his 
seat) (Aside) Surely, they will prefer their Messiah to 
this murderer. 

5 



\Poppaea enters quickly, kneels before Pilate, extend- 
ing tablet with uplifted hands) 

PILATE — Poppaea? What wilt thou? 

POPPAEA — A message, my lord, a message from my 
mistress. (Hands him tablet) 

PILATE — Tis well. Get thee gone. (Poppaea bows 
low and backs out) A message from Claudia at this 
hour? (Rises, steps aside and reads) "My husband: 
Have thou nothing to do with that just man, for I have 
suffered many things this day in a dream because of 
Him. I adjure thee, Pontius, by all the gods, save Him! 
Save Him! — Ever thine. Claudia Proculla. (Pilate 
walks back and forth, saying) "Have thou nothing to do 
with that just man." (Continues to pace back and forth) 
In the morning hours when dreams are true. — 'Tis like 
the dream of Caesar's wife — Calpurnia's dream — 'Twas 
an evil omen — That day was mighty Julius done to death 
— (Looks at tablet again) "Have thou nothing to do with 
that just man." — (Barabbas, bound, is brought in) Bar- 
abbas, knave, stand forth! (Soldier pushes him forward) 
There he stands. Look at him. The other is yonder 
in the hall. Whom will ye that I release unto you? 
This one, this fellow, Barabbas, or Hun, (Pointing tow- 
ard interior) Jesus, the King of the Jews, which is called 
Christ? 

(Annas takes a pouch of money and offers it to the 
people, bribing them to choose Barabbas.) 

CAIPHAS — Away with this man and release unto us 
Barabbas! 

PILATE — Silence, priest! Let these others speak. 

ANNAS — (Passing from one to another, offering 
coins) Say, "Barabbas," say "Barabbas." He comes to 
Peter, passing coins into his hand) say, "Barabbas!" 

PETER — (Flinging the money down with a violent 
gesture) Thy money perish with thee, false priest! 

ANNAS — Aha! Thou art a Galileean! Thy speech 
betrayeth thee. Perchance thou, too, wast with Him. 

LEVI — Aye, this fellow was also with Jesus of Nazar- 
eth. 

ANNAS — Thou art one of His disciples? 

PETER — Thou sayest it. I am. God forbid that I 

6 



should again deny Him! 

ANNAS— Death to Him! 

PILATE — Choose ye now. Whether of the twain will 
ye that I release unto you? 

THE PEOPLE — Away with this man! Release unto 
us Barabbas! 

PETER — (Addressing the people) Men of Israel, I 
beseech you, do not deny the Holy One. Do not ask 
that a murderer be granted unto you. 

JOHN — Has He not fed you, when you were hungry? 
Did He not multiply the loaves and fishes for you? Did 
He not heal your lepers with His touch? Did He not 
give sight to your blind and raise up your dead? For 
which of these works do ye conspire to kill Him? 

PEOPLE — Away with Him! Barabbas! Barabbas! 

PILATE— What shall I do then with Jesus, which is 
called Christ? 

PEOPLE — Crucify Him! Crucify Him! 

PETER and JOHN — Hosanna! Hosanna! 

PILATE— What evil hath He done? I have found 
no cause of death in Him. I will therefore chastise 
Him and let Him go. 

PEOPLE — (Louder than before) Crucify Him! Cru- 
cify Him! Loose unto us Barabbas! 

PILATE — Take ye Him and crucify Him, for I find 
no fault in Him. 

CAIPHAS — We have a law, and by our law He ought 
to die, because He made Himself the Son of God. 

PETER — (Stepping forward and raising his right 
hand) We believe and are sure that He is Christ, the 
Son of the living God. 

PILATE — Son of God? — Son of God?— By great Ju- 
piter! but this man hath all the bearing of a God. — 
'" Whence art thou?" I asked Him, but He gave me no an- 
swer. — Are the gods come down again in the likeness of 
men? Is He perchance a son of Jove or Phoebus-Apollo? 
And I, I had Him scourged — Even now the pavement is 
red with the blood of His footprints — And always the 
voice speaks — the voice of Claudia — and that other voice 
in my breast: "Have thou nothing to do with that just 
man!" (Renewed cries of "Crucify!") (aside) Aye, 



howl, ye jackals! (To the people) Shall I crucify your 
king? 

ANNAS — We have no king. 

CAIPHAS — We have no king but Caesar, Caesar, who 
is thine overlord. If thou let this man go, thou art not 
Caesar's friend. Whosoever maketh himself a king, 
speaketh against Caesar. 

PILATE — (Starting back in consternation and aside) 
Not Caesar's friend? — Not Caesar's friend? — O dark and 
terrible name of Caesar! — Not for a thousand talents 
of gold would I have it whispered even in the palace of 
Tiberius, that I, Pilate, am not Caesar's friend — It 
meant torture for thee, Sejanus, my patron, torture and 
death — what may it not mean for me? — (After a pause 
and turning to the people) Priests, men of Israel, at- 
tend! (Seating himself on throne) This day release I 
unto you (pointing) Barabbas, that for sedition and 
murder was cast into prison, whom ye have desired. 
(To soldier) Loose him! — But this Jesus, which is call- 
ed the Christ, Him I deliver unto you, that He may be 
crucified. (To other soldier) Ibis ad crucem! To the 
cross with Him! (Pointing to interior) 

(Priests dance up and down for joy. Others clap 
their hands together above their heads, crying, "Eia! 
Eia!") 

MARY — (Running forward and prostrating herself at 
foot of throne) Mercy, Pilate, mercy! Low at thy throne 
I kneel. Spare Him! His mother prays, His stricken 
mother. — What evil hath He done? — Never, since the 
world began, was there such a Holy One as this — white 
and undenled — The Prince of Glory — Christ Immanuel! 

PILATE — Take her away; she is beside herself! 

MARY MAGDALENE — (Leading Mary away) Let be, 
Mary, let be! They could have no power at all against 
Him, except it were given them from above. 'Tis the 
Father's will. This cup may not pass away except He 
drink it. 

PILATE — (Clapping his hands as signal) Poppaea, 
bring water! (Poppaea enters with a silver basin, kneels 
and holds it high with both hands) (Pilate, rising, very 

8 



solemnly and ceremoniously washes his hands) Men of 
Israel, bear witness! By the high gods, I am innocent 
of the blood of this just person, see ye to it! 

CAIPHAS — His blood be on us and on our children! 

PEOPLE — Yea, on us and on our children! 

PETEE — Great God, what a curse! 

JOHN — (With uplifted hands, as curtain drops) Lord 
Jehovah, not in wrath, not in wrath, but in mercy be His 
blood on them and on their children! 

SCENE II. THE WAY OF SORROWS. 

(Street scene. People pass back and forth. Enter 

Levi, Eli, Ishmael and others.) 
LEVI — Ho, men, have ye heard the news? The Naz- 
arene must die! 
ELI— God forbid! 

LEVI — 'Tis so. With mine own ears heard I Pilate 
command the Centurion, "I, miles, expedi crucem!" — 
Go, soldier, hasten the cross! Even now they lead Him 
forth to the Place of Skulls. 

(A trumpet sounds. Two soldiers, Antonius and Lu- 
cius, enter. They hold their spears in horizontal 
position and press back the people.) 
ANTONIUS — Peace, ho! Pilate's captain comes! 
LUCIUS — Make way! Make way! 
ANTONIUS— Give back! Back! Back! 
(Trumpet sounds again. Two other soldiers, Flavius 
and Publius, enter, holding trumpets to lips, be- 
tween them the Centurion, who is bearing a scroll. 
They form in line rear of stage. Centurion steps 
forward.) 
CENTURION — I charge you, all ye people, hear the 
decree of the most noble governor: (Reads from scroll) 
"In the year seventeen of the reign of Tiberius, and on 
this fourth day after the Ides of March, I, Pontius Pilate, 
governor, condemn Him, who is called Jesus of Nazareth, 
to be nailed to the cross, Quintius Cornelius to lead Him 
forth to the Place of Skulls. With Him, to die the 
death, I condemn the two thieves, Dismas and Gestes. 
The other, Barabbas, I this day release, because of the 
feast of the Jews. Thus it is appointed. In the name 

9 



of Caesar. Pontius Pilate, sixth Procurator of Judea. 

(Trumpet sounds. Centurion steps back. Soldiers 
fall in line, face about and march out.) 

LEVI — At last, at last, Pilate hath decreed the death 
of the Nazarene prophet. 

ISHMAEL — Because of that came I with haste, lest 
I be too late to see the accursed Galileean die. 

LEVI — (Stepping to side and pointing) The dust rises 
above the palms! A multitude is coming, as if to keep 
holiday. 

ISHMAEL — Meseems, all the tribes of Israel this day 
go up to Calvary. (Peter and John enter) 

PETER — Master — Master — I have denied Thee — and 
Thou must die — Thou must die — My sin! My sin! 

JOHN — Let us also go, that we may die with Him. 

PETER — Yonder, in the palace, when the cock crow- 
ed, He turned and looked on me — My God, that look! 
Lord, give me a coward's strength to face His enemies ! 
Ordain Thine arrows against His adversaries! 

JOHN — Last night, at the supper, I lay upon His 
breast, and His love to me was wonderful, passing the 
love of- women. 

PETER — And He prayed for me, there in the upper 
room, where we ate the Passover, He prayed for me, 
that my faith fail not — 

(Cries in the distance, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!") 

LEVI — (Rushing to side and pointing, while all face 
in that direction) Behold, they come! They come! 
Yonder out of the Damascus gate! 

ELI — I see Him! I see the Rabbi of Nazareth! 

ISHMAEL — What doth He bear upon His shoulders? 
Two heavy beams of wood, one athwart the other — 

ELI — O God! It is the wood for His cross! 

JOHN — Even so bore Isaac the wood for the burnt- 
offering unto the mount of sacrifice. 

PETER — He goeth forth bearing His cross. 

JOHN — Surely He hath borne our griefs and carried 
our sorrows, but even thus shall the government be upon 
His shoulder. 

PETER — I see two others, thieves, malefactors, led 
with Him to be put to death. 

10 



JOHN — Thus the Scripture is fulfilled which saith, 
"He was numbered with the transgressors. " 

(Distant cries, "Hail, hail king of the Jews!") 

ELI — They mock Him — they buffet Him with their 
hands! 

PETER — (Drawing his sword) I will go and smite 
them with the sword! 

JOHN — (Restraining him) Nay! Nay! Hath not the 
Master forbidden it? Hath He not said, "Simon, Simon, 
put up thy sword into the sheath? The cup which the 
Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?" 

(Peter puts up his sword) 

ISHMAEL — (While distant voices cry, "Crucify!") 
They draw nearer. I can hear the noise of their shout- 
ing. 

PETER — (Pointing) I see Him. I see Him, my Mas- 
ter! — The crown of thorns is pressed down upon His 
head — the outer garment is almost torn away — His face 
is stained with blood — But what is that I see around His 
neck? — A scroll with an inscription? (Turning to John) 
Canst read it, John? 

JOHN — Aye, 'tis Pilate's writing, "Jesus Nazarenus, 
Rex Judaeorum," which is, being interpreted, "Jesus of 
Nazareth, King of the Jews." 

ELI — He stops — A woman wipes His brow with her 
kerchief. 

PETER — 'Tis Veronica, our sister, Veronica! 

JOHN — I can see His back — Oh, so marred — His back 
that was given to the smiters — I can see the wounds — 
wounds that will not cease to bleed. 

PETER — Look! Why is the great concourse halted? 
— He can go no farther — He is sinking down under the 
weight of the cross — He is falling — Father in heaven, 
He is dead! 

ELI — Nay, nay, He hath but fainted! 

JOHN — I see a man passing by! They are laying 
the cross upon him, that he may bear it after the 
Master. Look, Peter, thou knowest the man. 'Tis the 
Phenician merchant, Symon of Cyrene, the father of 
Alexander and Rufus — dost remember? — those young 
Greeks, who came to us and said," We would see Jesus." 

11 



PETER — Why was not I there? — why not I— to bear 
it after Him — the cruel cross? 

(Cries of, "Hail, King of the Jews!") 

CAIPHAS — (Entering with Annas, and scornfully 
waving his arms) Make way for the King of the Jews! 
Ha, ha, hah! Bend the knee! Bend the knee! Hail 
Him, the king of fishermen! — What, fellows, Israelites, 
bend ye not the knee before this mighty king? 

ANNAS — Away with Him! Away with Him! It is 
not fit that He should live ! 

LEVI — Bah! He is an utter fool! To the cross with 
the false prophet! 

ELI — (To Levi) Thou hast a demon's heart! Hell 
burns within thee ! 

ISHMAEL — Lo, the women come! They are bewail- 
ing and lamenting" Him! 

JOHN — The holy women of Galilee, Mary Magdalene, 
Mary, the mother of James, and Salome; and with them 
I see some of the daughters of Jerusalem. 

PETER — And His mother, John, His mother walks 
with them. mother of many sorrows! 

(Enter Mary Magdalene, Mary James, Salome, Mary 
the mother, and Veronica. They are weeping and 
wringing their hands) 

SALOME — Alas, He is too good, too pure, too holy 
to die! 

MARY JAMES — Oh, that my head were waters and 
mine eyes a fountain of tears! 

MARY MAGDALENE — Ye clouds, ye floods, ye rains, 
dwell in mine eyes! Oh, that I might weep rivers of 
tears ! 

VOICE — (From side) Daughters of Jerusalem, weep 
not for me, but weep for yourselves and for your chil- 
dren ! 

MARY — (Running forward and lifting her hands) O 
God, Father, Jehovah! Spare Him! Save Him! Give 
Him now Thine angels, the more than twelve legions! 
Send forth the shining host to fend Him with their 
wings ! 

(Veronica, drying her tears, displays a kerchief with 

12 



the blood-red image of the Savior in His crown of 
thorns.) 

SALOME — (Pointing) Behold, His image! 

MARY MAGDALENE— The Master's face! 

MARY JAMES — His thorn-crowned head! 

WOMEN and DISCIPLES— His face! His face! 

VERONICA — (Holding up kerchief) I used my ker- 
chief — yonder by the gate — to wipe the blood-drops 
from His brow — and then 'twas as you see, His face im- 
printed on the cloth. 

MARY — Thus are the lines of His dear face impressed 
upon my heart indelibly. 

MARY MAGDALENE — (Steps forward and faces au- 
dience.) 

O bleeding head and wounded, 
And full of pain and scorn, 
In mockery surrounded 
With cruel crown of thorn. 

(Cries from side, "Hail King of the Jews! Crucify 
Him!") 

MARY — Is it nothing to you — is it nothing to you all, 
that they break a mother's heart? — Behold and see, if 
there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow! 

JOHN — (To Mary) Hush, Mary, 'tis the Father's will. 

LEVI — (Pointing to side) They take Him aside to es- 
cape the throng! They take Him by the street called 
"Crooked!" But Simon of Cyrene, bearing the cross, 
cometh hither! 

(Enter Simon with cross, accompanied by the two 
soldiers, Flavius and Publius) 

SIMON — Behold, here I am; witness against me be- 
fore the Lord! Whose ox have I taken, or whom have 
I defrauded? What evil have I done, that I should bear 
this load of shame — this gibbet — this gallow's tree? 

FLAVIUS— Silence ! 

PUBLIUS— Hold thy peace! 

PETER — Be of good cheer, Simon of Cyrene! That 
which thou deemest an indignity, shall become a badge 
of honor. 

JOHN — blessed Simon, thou dost bear the banner 
of our kingdom! 

13 



PETER — All the Christian ages shall envy thee; and 
forever thy name shall be linked with that Name which 
is above every name. 

JOHN — For He hath said, "Whosoever will be my 
disciple, let him take up the cross and follow me." 

FLAVIUS — (Prodding- Simon with his spear) On, fel- 
low, on! 

PUBLIUS— On to old "Baldhead," the Place of Skulls! 

(They move on. Cries in distance, "Crucify Him!") 

MARY — (Facing audience with hands uplifted) The 
heavens are clothed with blackness, and sackcloth is their 
covering! Lord, Jehovah, my prayer is unto Thee! How 
long, O Lord, how long! Out of the depths I cry! Save 
Thine anointed, O Lord! Grant not the desire of the 
wicked! I stretch forth my hands unto Thee! Where 
is now Thy loving kindness, which thou swarest unto 
David? Oh, turn again unto us and save the son of Thy 
hand-maiden! Father, Abba, Father, for His sake, for 
Christ's sweet sake! Amen. 
(Curtain) 

SCENE III. ON CALVARY. 

(Three crosses. Drop lowered from above, so that 

only lower part of crosses shows. Ladder leaning 

against middle cross, only foot of ladder showing. 

Soldiers, priests, women, people, John and Peter. 

Hammer blows are heard.) 

MARY — (Shrieking) God! They are piercing His 

hands with the nails! His hands! His feet! Help! 

Help! They murder Him! They murder Him! (More 

hammer-blows) 

VOICE — (From middle cross) Father, forgive them, 
for they know not what they do! 

JOHN — great Highpriest of love, who makest in- 
tercession for the transgressors! 

PETER — Had they known it, they would not have 
crucified the Lord of Glory. 

(Soldier comes down from ladder, having hammer and 
nails. Another soldier assists in removing ladder.) 
ELI — With wicked hands they have taken Him — with 
wicked hands — and crucified Him! 

14 



ANTONIUS — (Enters bearing garments) Ho, com- 
rades, behold our spoil — the king's garments — ha, ha, 
hah! the royal robes! 

FLAVIUS — (Taking up one of the garments) Here 
is the tallith. Let us make four parts: To every one 
a part. 

LUCIUS — Thy knife, Flavius! I will part the seams. 
(The knife is passed. They divide the cloak) 

PUBLIUS — And now the coat. (Holding it up) By 
Hercules, 'tis fine! Without seam, woven from the top 
throughout. 

MARY — (Aside) My son's coat! — I made it for Him 
— I spun the wool — I wove the cloth — I put it on Him 
that day in Nazareth when He went forth never to re- 
turn. 

ANTONIUS — Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, 
whose it shall be. 

(The four soldiers throw the coat on the ground and 
crouch down around it.) 

JOHN — (Aside) That the Scripture might be fulfilled, 
which saith, "They parted my raiments among them, 
and for my vesture they did cast lots." 

FLAVIUS — (Displaying Dice box) Here are dice. 
Come, who will cast first? Down, fellows, and throw 
them on this coat for which we hazard. 

LUCIUS — (Seizing box) Ye gods of chance, smile up- 
on me while I cast! (Throws dice on coat) 

PUBLIUS — Ha, ha, hah! a poor cast — ten! too low 
— too low! 

ANTONIUS — (Waving box up toward middle cross) 
Hello, up there, thou Nazarene, give me good luck! 
(casts) Twelve! What say ye, is it enough? 

FLAVIUS — Nay! Nay! Tis poor dicing — My cast is 
better. (Casts) Fifteen! The coat is mine! 

PUBLIUS — Wait, brother, not so hasty! (Waving 
dice box toward sky) Ye fates, conspire to give me vic- 
tory! (Casts) Three sixes! Eighteen! By all the gods, I 
win! (Grabs the coat) 

FLAVIUS — Not so, rascal! Thou didst turn the dice! 
'Tis mine, mine! (Grabs other end of coat) 

PUBLIUS — Thou liest, Phrygian dog! Let go! (Draws 

15 



knife, as does Flavius. Their knives clash) 

CENTURION — (Interfering) Peace, knaves, peace f 
The coat belongs to Publius. He hath won it fairly. 

ANTONIUS — Come, friends, come hither, and let us 
cast to see who buys the second bottle of goodly Roman 
wine. (They continue dicing, while the bottle circulates 
freely) 

(During this time Mary, the mother, presses nearer 
the cross, until she stands beneath it, and the blood, 
dropping down, stains her white head-dress. One of 
the other women supports her, and John draws near) 

SALOME — (Pointing to Mary's head-dress) His blood! 
His blood! 

JOHN — (With folded hands and uplifted eyes) The 
blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin. 

MARY MAGDALENE— (Half to cross and half to 
audience) 

See! From His head, His hands, His feet, 
Sorrow and love flow mingled down! 
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet? 
Or thorns compose so rich a crown? 

VOICE — (From middle cross) Woman, (Mary looks 
up) behold thy son! Son, (John looks up) behold thy 
mother! 

PETER — (Aside) Having loved His own, which were 
in the world, He loved them unto the end. 

JOHN — (Taking Mary by the arm and leading her 
toward front of stage) Mother! — 'Tis a holy charge the 
Beloved hath given me — Mother — My home shall be thy 
home, till death us part, my mother! 

(Jews pass by reviling the middle cross, making faces, 
putting out their tongues, shaking their fists) 

LEVI — Ha, Thou, Thou that destroyest the temple 
and buildest it in three days, save Thyself! 

ANNAS — If Thou be the Son of God, come down 
from the cross! 

LEVI — He saved others, Himself He cannot save! 

ISHMAEL — Let this Christ, this King of Israel de- 
scend now from the cross, that we may see and believe! 

ANTONIUS — Prophet of Nazareth, if Thou be the 
King of the Jews, save Thyself! 

16 



LUCIUS — Aha! Is this a king? Is this the son of 
David? 

FL A VIUS— (Holding up the bottle) Wilt have a drink, 
Nazarene? There's no myrrh in this, but rare wine 
from the hills of Italy. 

VOICE — (From right-hand cross) If thou be the 
Christ, save thyself and us! 

VOICE — (From left-hand cross) Lord, remember me, 
when Thou comest into Thy Kingdom! 

VOICE — (From middle cross) Verily, verily, I say un- 
to thee, today shalt thou be with me in Paradise! 

ELI — (As trumpet sounds faintly in distance) Hark! 
The sixth hour is sounded from the temple by the trump- 
ets of the Levites. 

ISHMAEL — 'Tis high noon — and yet the day grows 
strangely dim. 

ELI — A dullness overspreads the sky — Look! The 
sun yonder! 'Tis red, red as blood! — It grows darker — 
as though 'twere eventide. (Light on stage growing very 
dim) 

ANNAS — By the rod of Aaron! saw ye ever such a 
threatning sky? 

MARY MAGDALENE— 

Well might the sun in darkness hide, 
And shut his glories in, 
When God, the mighty maker, died 
For man, the creature's sin. 

VOICE — (From middle cross) Eli, Eli, lama sabach- 
thani! My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me? 

ANNAS— He calleth for Elias! 

MARY — (Runs forward. Sinks on one knee. Hands 
uplifted) God — Thou who art the Father — Spare Him 
— He is the Son — He is the Son! 

VOICE — (From middle cross) I thirst! 

(Soldier dips small sponge in vessel, puts it on a reed, 
and holds it up to middle cross) 

LEVI — (Stepping forward) Let alone! Let us see 
whether Elias will come to take him down. 

ISHMAEL — The darkness grows apace. 'Tis thick as 
midnight. 

17 



ELI — And well it may. This day have ye darkened 
the face of God! 

VOICE — (From middle cross) It is finished! 

JOHN — (Looking up) Father, to this end hast Thou 
sent Him into the world, that He might finish Thy work, 
and give His life as a ransom for many. 

VOICE — (From middle cross) Father, into Thy hands 
I commend my spirit! 

(Thunder and lightning) 

MARY — (Running to the cross and throwing her arms 
around it) He is dead! He is dead! 

PETER — (Casting himself down at foot of cross) I 
have lost my Savior! I have lost my God! 

CENTURION— (With right hand uplifted) Truly, 
this was a righteous man and the Son of God! 

(Priests smite upon breast, strew ashes, rend gar- 
ments) 

PETER — (Addressing priests) He is a murdered man. 
and ye are the murderers! 

(Thunder and lightning) 

LEVI — God have mercy on us! 

ISHMAEL — (Running) Away, away from this ac- 
cursed hill! 

CENTURION — (Having quit the stage a moment, he 
returns with a tablet in his hand) Pilate hath ordered 
the Crurifragrium. Flavius, and thou, Publius, take 
mallets and break their legs. (They take mallets and 
beat on right and left-hand cross. Mary shrieks.) 

FLAVIUS — (Under middle cross) The Nazarene is 
dead! 

CENTURION— What sayest thou? Dead? Already? 
'Tis well. Break not His legs. 

JOHN — That the Scriptures should be fulfilled, "A 
bone of Him shall not be broken. " 

CENTURION — To make sure, Antonius, thrust a spear 
into His heart. 

ANTONIUS— (After thrusting spear) He is dead. 
There cometh forth blood and water. 

JOHN — And again another Scripture saith, "They 
shall look on Him whom they pierced. " 

(Mary is kneeling on one side of middle cross, Mary 

18 



Magdalene on the other. Beside each stands one 
of the other women. Soldiers back of them in a 
row with grounded spears. Peter and John step 
forward and face the audience.) 

PETER— Tis finished, all is finished! The long day's 
task is done! The loving heart is broken! 

JOHN — Greater love hath no man than this, that a 
man lay down his life for his friends. But Christ died 
for us, while we were yet sinners. 
PETER— 

Lamb of God without blemish! 
On Calvary slain and suspended; 
Always patient and lowly, 
However vile scoffers offended; 
All sins hast Thou borne for us, 
Else would despair reign o'er us: 
Have mercy on us, Jesus! 

ALL: — Have mercy on us, Jesus! 

(Curtain) 

SCENE IV. IN THE GOVERNOR'S PALACE. 

PILATE — (On his seat. A soldier with spear at either 
side.) How strangely still are the streets today — and 
that, too, when the feast of the Jews is nigh. Is all 
Jerusalem gone out to Golgatha? — A curse on the whole 
wretched business! — I cannot get that Galileean's face 
out of my mind. 

ANTONIUS — (Enters, bowing low) Most noble gov- 
ernor, the Chief priests would have speech with thee. 

PILATE — Bring them in! (Soliloquizing) Ah, He 
had a kingly air! 'Twas as if Jove spake, when he said, 
"My Kingdom is not of this world." 

(Soldier enters with Annas and Caiphas) 

CAIPHAS — (Bowing) Great Procurator, we have 
somewhat to say unto thee. 

PILATE — Priests, say on. 

CAIPHAS — Thou hast written the superscription of 
this fellow's accusation, and the writing was, "Jesus of 
Nazareth, King of the Jews." 

19 



ANNAS — Tis that title we would have thee change, 
Pilate! Write not "The King of the Jews — 

CAIPHAS— But that He said, "I am the King; of the 
Jews/' 

PILATE — Priests of Judah, have ye the impudence to 
enter my palace and tell me what I must do and what 
not? Out of my sight, ere I forget myself! What I 
have written, I have written. Begone! (Antonius leads 
them out) (Soliloquizing) Never man spake as this man 
— this Christ of the Jews — (Antonius Brings in Levi and 
Ishmael) Now, by all the Gods, whom have we here? 

LEVI — Most mighty governor, thou knowest, it is the 
season of our preparation — 

ISHMAEL — Therefore it is not fit that the bodies of 
these malefactors should remain upon the cross on the 
Sabbath day — 

LEVI — This Sabbath is is a high day, and we beseech 
thee, O Pilate, command that their legs be broken, and 
thus their death be hastened. 

PILATE — (Takes tablet and writes) It shall be as 
ye say. (Hands tablet to Antonius) Send word to 
Quintius to have their legs broken! — and now begone! 
(They go out bowing) (Trumpet in distance. Lights 
grow gradually dimmer until it is quite dark) 'Tis the 
trumpet sounding the sixth hour — noonday — and yet a 
dimness creeps through all the room — (Stepping to one 
side, as if looking out of window) A darkness over- 
spreads the sky — 'Tis 'not yet night — whence then the 
shadows^ — whence the unnatural gloom, as black as any 
raven's wing? — Ho! bring lights! Bring candles! (Thun- 
der and lightning) Ye gods of Olympus, stay me, what 
is this? — Jupiter thunders — all the heavens mourn — Was 
this then, indeed, a son of the gods? — (Claps his hands. 
Stamps his foot) Lights! Candles! (Poppaea enters 
with a candelabrum filled with lighted candles. She 
places it on the table and departs bowing) 

(Pilate's wife, Claudia, enters) 

PILATE — Claudia? Thou comest to see me? (Goes 
to meet her and leads her forward) By the gods, but 
I am glad of thy company this day, this fateful hour! 
(To soldiers) Leave us alone! (They go out bowing) 

20 



CLAUDIA — Pontius, my Lord, it is in truth a fearful 
hour. (Thunder and lightning) Who ever knew the 
skies to menace so? (Lightning) Look, the breast of 
heaven is cleft with darts of lightning! 

PILATE — Pray to the gods, Proculla, pray to the gods 
to stay their hand! 

CLAUDIA — I verily believe, 'tis not the gods, but 'tis 
the Son of God on whom we need to call! 

PILATE — Thou sawest Him in a dream? 

CLAUDIA — Yes, my Lord, in a dream — in a vision of 
the night. — I thought! was in Rome — in the Forum — ; 
Black darkness fell — the earth trembled — the palaces, 
the temples of the gods, crashed into ruin — and above 
the chaos arose a cross — and upon it I saw this One — 
this man or God, I know not which — Thorns were around 
His brow — a deep wound in His side — and above — above, 
in the thick darkness, I heard a voice, as if it were the 
voice of an angel, crying, "Woe, woe to the world, 
which hath crucified its King!" — Thereupon I awoke, and 
forthwith I called for my tablets and stylus, and I sent 
thee the message whereof thou knowest. 

PILATE — For thy sake, and for His sake, too, I 
would have saved Him, but those madmen, those priests 
foiled me at every turn. 

CLAUDIA — And thou gavest Him up to those jackals? 

PILATE — What else could I do? They dared to 
threaten me with Caesar's displeasure. Thou knowest 
what that means; Tiberius the terrible. 

ANTONIUS — (Enters with the Centurion) Quintius 
Cornelius, my Lord! 

CENTURION — Thy sentence, noble Pilate, has been 
executed. They are crucified and dead. 

CLAUDIA— Alas! Alas! that He should die, that 
Holy One and Righteous! 

PILATE— The Galileean? Dead already? Tell me, 
Quintius, how did He die? 

CENTURION — Like a god, Pilate, like a very god! 
Ah, but He was brave, brave and noble to the end! We 
nailed Him there — aloft between the thieves — and the 
voice which we strove to quench in death, was uplifted 
for us, His executioners. God! shall I ever forget that 

21 



cry, that prayer, as the nails pierced His hands, "Father, 
forgive them, for they know not what they do!" — Then 
it grew dark — the light of the sun failed — the thunder 
rolled — the earth trembled, and midnight shadows wrap- 
ped the barren hill. 

CLAUDIA — When malefactors die, no signs are seen, 
but all the heavens weep, when dies the Son of God. 

ANTONIUS — (Entering) The counsellor, Joseph of 
Aramathea ! 

CLAUDIA — I will withdraw, my lord, and await thy 
coming in the inner court. 

PILATE — (Gallantly accompanies her out, kissing her 
hand) Farewell, gentle wife, my lady Claudia! (Exit 
Claudia) (To soldier) Bring in the counsellor! (As 
Joseph enters) Greetings, most noble counsellor! 

JOSEPH — And to thee, governor! Grant me, I 
pray thee, a favor. I crave of thee, Pilate, the body 
of the Nazarene, Jesus, which is called the Christ. 

PILATE — His body? What wouldst do with it? 

JOSEPH — Near the place where He was crucified, I 
have a garden, in which is a new sepulchre, hewn in 
stone. There I would bury Him. 

PILATE — Thy purpose doth thee honor. Most gladly 
do I grant thy wish. (Exit Joseph, led by Antonius) A 
good man and a just. Verily, an Israelite in whom 
there is no guile. 

ANTONIUS — (Reentering) The prTests, my lord, 
would have speech with thee. 

PILATE — Now, by all the gods of Rome, what can 
this pack of hellhounds want again? (Enter Annas and 
Caiphas.) 

ANNAS — Sir, we remember, that that deceiver said, 
while He was yet alive, "After three days I will rise 
again." 

PILATE — What have I to do, priest, with your 
stupid superstitions? 

CAIPHAS — Command, that the sepulchre be made 
sure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night 
and steal Him away, and say to the people, "He is risen 
from the dead!" 

22 



ANNAS — So the last error shall be worse than the 
first. 

CAIPHAS — We would have thee put Caesar's seal 
upon the sepulchre. 

PILATE — Caesar's seal? What folly is this? A seal 
to keep a dead man dead? The plague upon you priests! 
Do ye fear this Galileean even when He is dead? — Yet 
it shall be as you say. (Turning to Centurion) Quintius, 
place the watch and seal the stone. Make it as sure as 
you can. And now, priests, it is enough. Withdraw 
your feet from my door, lest I be weary of you and so 
hate you: Begone! (Centurion, soldiers and priests ex- 
eunt) 

PILATlE — (Alone) Ever His image is before mine 
eyes — Ever a voice within me cries, "Ecce homo!" "Be- 
hold the man!" Doth He come for vengeance — Ven- 
geance, too, for His kinsmen, those other Galileeans, 
whose blood my soldiers mingled with their sacrifices? 
— Oh, that the pomp of this Paschal feast had not tempt- 
ed me to quit my residence in Caesarea, or that I had 
not permitted that fox, Herod, to send the prisoner back 
to me! — Hark! Who is it that calls? I hear a tongue 
shriller than all the tongues of men — He is calling from 
the tomb — He is coming — His brow is gashed — The 
blood is spurting from His side — Back, Galileean! Back 
into the sepulchre! — I have washed my hands — I am in- 
nocent of Thy blood — but the blood — (Looks at his 
hands) the blood is still there — it will not wash away! — 
Lo, what is it I see — written there — there above the fir- 
mament of all the years? — His name coupled with my 
name — my name handed down to eternal execration: 
"Suffered under Pontius Pilate — Suffered under Pontius 
Pilate!"— 

(Curtain) 
SCENE V. THE RETURN FROM THE CROSS 

(John and Mary enter. John supporting her.) 

MARY — (Looking back) Yonder is Golgatha, and 
He still hangs there — on the cross — on the accursed 
tree — ■ 

JOHN — God forbid that I should glory, save in the 
cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

23 



MARY — There He hangs — so high — where I cannot 
reach Him. Oh, that I could hold Him again as in other 
days — hold Him in my arms — have Him with me always 
— with me in our home at Nazareth, Nazareth, the sweet 
mountain village — I would never let Him go, never! 

JOHN — Oh, thou afflicted, tossed with a tempest of 
sorrow, God comfort thee! 

MARY — And they called me "Blessed among women" 
— Lo, I taste nothing but the gall of bitterness — But 
what is my agony compared with His? — Ah, His back! 
Didst see His back, where the lash of the scourge had 
torn its way into the poor, quivering flesh? How is it 
that such a horror must be borne? And the thorns — 
the sharp thorns around His head — 

JOHN — Gideon taught the men of Succoth with thorns 
— shall not his thorny chaplet teach us, teach the world? 

MARY — My King, the King of men ! The King of 
martyrs! They set upon Him from every side, but He 
answered never a word. They put into His hands a 
mock sceptre, but He did not turn it into a sword to 
cleave them asunder. He endured the contradiction of 
sinners. He trod the wine-press of wrath all alone. 
Tell me, did ever before so brave a heart beat in human 
breast? 

JOHN — By His own blood He entered into the Holy 
Place, and hath obtained an eternal redemption. In 
truth, He could say with the prophet: "I come this day 
from Bozrah, with garments dyed red from Edom." 

MARY — Why need the priests have put Him to all this 
torture? Was it not enough that He must die? Where- 
fore these inventions of cruelty, such as I deem the world 
has never seen? But, ah, brave witness, Thou didst not 
quail — Thou didst bear it all as the very Son of God. — 
I, His mother, stood there beneath Him — and He smiled. 
Didst mark it, John, how He smiled upon me in the midst 
of His agony — smiled down upon me from the cross as 
if to say, "Weep not, my mother !" 

JOHN — Yea, while we gazed upon the cross, all 
heavenly, holy things abounded in our hearts. 

MARY — Once, when He was a little lad, weary with 

24 



His play in Joseph's carpenter shop, He stretched out 
His arms like this, (Motion) and in the shadow that He 
cast on the wall, I saw it, I saw yon (Pointing) ghastly 
tree. 

JOHN — Refrain thy voice from weeping and thine 
eyes from tears. I verily believe He shall come again 
from the dead, as He hath promised, 

MARY — John, what sayest thou? Hast thou, too, 
that sweet hope burning in thy breast? John, John, 
can it be? Can such a wondrous thing be? 

JOHN — I believe that God Jehovah will not suffer His 

Holy One to see corruption. But come, mother, let 

us seek our home and there await the Father's will, 
""Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the 
morning.' ' 

MARY— God grant that it be so! 

(They go out as Judas enters) 

JUDAS — (Enters with rope. Looks around furtively) 
His mother! She did not see me — God! what a meeting 
'twould have been, Judas and His mother! Rather face 
a thousand furies of hell than His mother! — In black 
despair I fled, I know not whither — Back to those devils, 
the priests, I carried the silver — I said to them, "I have 
sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood" — They 
laughed — may Jehovah smite them — they laughed and 
jeered, "What is that to us? See thou to that!" — I cast 
the money down in the Holy Place — ha, ha, hah! Thirty 
shekles of silver, and for what? To buy a potter's field 
— 'Tis well named "Aceldama," the "Field of blood" — 
Blood — blood — blood — upon my hands — upon my soul — 

Oh, that I were again as in the days past — when the 
morning light fell upon the hills of Kerioth — When He 
called me — When I left my home and followed Him. — 
How did that accursed council ever tempt me to sell my 
Lord, sell Him for the price of the meanest slave? Sa- 
tan entered my heart. Twas then the Master said, 
"Have I not chosen you twelve, and one of you is a 
devil?" 

Ha, ha, hah! Priests, what will ye give me, and I will 
deliver Him unto you? I kept the evil covenant. As 
Joab took Amasa by the head with his right hand, to kiss 

25 



him, but with his left plunged the sword into the cap- 
tain's heart — even so I kissed the Master, while piercing 
Him through with the dart of treachery. My God! How 
was it possible? Hell kissed heaven, there in the garden 

of the oil-press! (Starting back) Away from me! 

I am a leper! — The name of Iscariot is branded to ever- 
lasting time with a mark a thousandfold more shameful 
than the mark of Cain — Better for me that I had never 
been born — Black horror is in my soul — Unclean wings 
of foulest spirits flap around me — 'Tis best to end it all, 
and plunge at once into the yawning chasm, where Ge- 
henna is ablaze with quenchless fire. — There! There! Do 
ye see them? The devils — the little devils — they are 
piling up the fagots of hell — for me — for me — cursed 
forever in the black pit of Hades — down — down — down 
— there is no bottom — "Aha!" shrieks Satan, "There 
he comes! There he comes! One of the twelve! Ha, 
ha, hah! The holy apostle, who sold his Master! — down 
with him — down — down — into the hell of hells!" 

God! Those eyes — those eyes of the sinless One upon 
me — Everywhere I see those eyes — Look! What is 
that? Yonder (pointing up) above the deeps of despair 
— above earth and sky — I see a throne arise — and upon 
it — upon it I see Him — Him with the scars in His hands 
and feet — and Oh, the eyes of Him — the eyes of Him — 
(Shields his face) they search and sear and shrivel soul 
and body! Ye mountains, fall upon me — ye hills, cover 
me, and hide me from the eyes of Him that sitteth on 
the throne. 

(Curtain) 

SCENE VI. THE BURIAL. 

(Nicodemus and Joseph of Aramathea enter from op- 
posite sides.) 

NICODEMUS — Whither away, honorable counsellor? 

JOSEPH — To take the body of our Master, Jesus, 
down from the cross, that I may bury it. Where goest 
thou, Nicodemus? 

NICODEMUS — I came with that same purpose, 
though, verily, I knew not how it might be carried out. 

26 



JOSEPH — I craved His body from Pilate, and 'twas 
granted. 

NICODEMUS— Thou didst ask a great thing, Joseph 
— that holy body, which for more than thirty years has 
been the tabernacle of "the Word made flesh. " 

JOSEPH — Alas, that it should be nailed unto the bit- 
ter tree! 

NICODEMUS — 'Twas for our advantage. Now I un- 
derstand it, this thing He said to me that night long- 
ago, "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, 
even so must the Son of Man be lifted up." 

JOSEPH — My garden is hard by. In it I have a rock- 
hewn sepulchre. There let us lay Him away. 

NICODEMUS — I know the place. 'Tis a pleasant 
garden, far from the hum of Jerusalem. 

JOSEPH — Lo, here is fine linen for His windingsheet. 

NICODEMUS — And I have brought sweet spices to 
embalm Him-^Arabian gum, myrrh and aloes, about a 
hundred pounds. 

JOSEPH — Let us hasten, lest haply the sun go down 
before 'tis done, and the Sabbath come. (They go out) 

(Enter Mary Magdalene, Salome, Mary James, Mary 
the mother, and Eli) 

MARY — (To others) Ye saw Him die — my Son, my 
beloved — What think ye, shall He live again? 

MARY MAGDALENE — He shall rise again in the res- 
urrection of the last day. 

ELI — Nay! Nay! I heard Him say, "In three days." 
Shall He who cried, "Lazarus, come forth!," not bid 
Himself arise? He who hath the keys of death and hell? 

SALOME — (Pointing) Look! Joseph, the counsel- 
lor, and Nicodemus, the night-disciple! 

MARY JAMES — Peter and John are with them, and 
soldiers with torches. 

MARY MAGDALENE — They are bearing His body to 
the tomb. 

ELI — Up the slopes of Olivet, where so often He walk- 
ed with His disciples. 

MARY — Come, let us go, that we may weep with them. 
(They go out. Immediately singing is heard, a funer- 
al dirge drawing nearer. The procession appears. 

27 



The Centurion leads. Two soldiers with torches. 
Peter, John, Joseph and Nicodemus bearing a black 
covered bier. Mary and Mary Magdalene, Salome 
and Mary James. Two soldiers with torches and 
Eli. They sing dirge: Tune: "Crusader's Hymiu") 
DIRGE— 

Our dear Lord Jesus, 

To the tomb we bear Him 

Who bore the sorrows of us alL 

Now He is sleeping, 

Bitter our weeping, 

While darker still the shadows falL 

Ye, who are mourning 

Dear, dead hearts, departed, 

Ye, who must pass beneath the rod — 

Our grief is greater, 

Our anguish keener: 

Lo, we lament the death of God! 

Lay Him down gently; 

Oh, He is so tired 

Of earth where He was but a guest; 

He, the forsaken, 

Outcast and homeless, 

At last hath found a place to rest. 

(They enter tomb. Women remain outside, though 
Salome and Mary James look in) 

MARY JAMES — Dost mark the place where they lay 
Him, Salome? 

SALOME — Aye, yonder in the rock-hewn niche. (Mo- 
tions) Here His head, and there His feet. 

MARY MAGDALENE— It is well. We shall find Him 
again, when the Sabbath is past. 

MARY — Now, for Him, indeed, the Sabbath is begun. 

(Men reappear from tomb. Soldiers place stone 
against opening.) 

CENTURION— In the name of Caesar I close this 
tomb forever. (Sealing stone) Let no man's hand be 
lifted against the seal of great Tiberius. 

28 



ELI — But who shall seal the tomb against the hand 
of the Almighty who rendeth the rocks in pieces? 

MARY — (Leaning her head against tomb) I shall 
never, never again find peace, until I am as He is now. 
(Two soldiers on either side of tomb. Centurion in 
middle, in front of sealed stone. John, Mary and 
Joseph on one side, Peter, Nicodemus and Eli on 
the other. Three Marys advance and sing a song 
of lamentation.) 

(Curtain) 

SCENE VII. JOSEPH'S GARDEN. 

(Dim light. Soldiers guarding tomb. Three Marys 

enter with vessels of ointment, sing song of Easter 

morning, and then pass out) ) 

ANTONIUS — Comrades, is not the night nearly gone? 

LUCIUS — Surely, the dawn is breaking, yonder above 

Olivet. 

FLAVIUS — (As thunder is heard) Thunder? And 
the sky full of stars? 

PUBLIUS— What was that? It seemed as if the 
earth trembled — 

ANTONIUS — And the whole mountain side were 
aquiver! 

(More thunder. Stone of tomb topples over. Bright 
light. Angel emerges from sepulchre, rolling the 
fallen stone aside. Soldiers fall down) 
ANGEL — (With uplifted hand) The Lord is risen, 
Hallelujah! The Lord is risen, indeed! (Reenters tomb) 
(Soldiers rise, throw away their spears and run in all 
directions. Publius meets the Centurion, just en- 
tering. Centurion draws his sword. — Publius falls 
on his knees before him.) 
CENTURION— Coward, knave! Why hast left thy 
watch? 

PUBLIUS — Captain — My captain! There's something 
— something that lives — (looking over his shoulder) in 
yon tomb — A vision came and said, the Jew is risen! 

CENTURION — (Runs forward and looks into tomb) 
I knew it! I knew it! Said I not, the man is God Him- 
self? He arose as men wake from slumber, and walked 

29 



forth spite of seal and stone! Henceforth the God of 
Israel is my God! — But come, let us hence and report to 
Pilate. In truth, he'll tell me I am lying! (They go 
out) 

(Red light. Soft bird notes. Three Marys enter) 

SALOME — How beautiful is the garden at the break 
of day! 

MARY JAMES— Like the garden of Solomon, "The 
flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of 
the birds is come. 

MARY MAGDALENE — And the voice of the turtle- 
dove is heard in our land." 'Tis Easter day and spring 
has come. 

SALOME — Would to God 'twere spring in our hearts 
also! Oh, that He, the Prince of Glory, had not died! 

MARY JAMES — And we trusted that it had been He 
which should have redeemed Israel. 

MARY MAGDALENE— Who knows what God may 
yet do? (Red light) 'Tis the third day. Lo, the Eastern 
sky is dyed with the rosy tints of morning! 

SALOME — Here are sweet spices to anoint Him, but 
how may we enter the tomb? 

MARY JAMES — (As they approach tomb) Who shall 
roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? 

MARY MAGDALENE— Look! Look! The stone is 
rolled away! 

SALOME — The grave is open! 

MARY JAMES — (Looking in) The tomb is empty! 

MARY MAGDALENE— Wait here! I will run and 
tell Peter and John the body is gone! (Runs off stage. 
Thunder. Bright light. Two angels emerge from tomb. 
Women start back and fall on their knees) 

FIRST ANGEL— Be not affrighted! Rise and re- 
joice! (They rise) Ye seek Jesus, of Nazareth which 
was crucified? 

SECOND ANGEL— He is not here! Behold, He is 
risen! 

FIRST ANGEL — Why seek ye the living among the 
dead? 

SECOND ANGEL — Come, see the place where the 
Lord lay. (They look into the tomb) 

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FIRST ANGEL— He is not here. Remember, how He 
spake unto you, saying, the Son of man must be deliver- 
ed into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified. But 
the third day He shall rise again. 

SECOND ANGEL — But now go your way, tell His 
disciples and Peter that He goeth before you into Galilee. 
There shall ye see Him. 

(Women hurry out. Angels enter tomb. Peter and 
John come running in. John outruns Peter) 

JOHN — (Looking into tomb) 'Tis true, the place is 
empty! I see the cloth rolled up, but Him I see not. 

PETER — (Enters tomb. Then appears in doorway, 
displaying linen) Here are the linen wrappings — Here 
is the napkin that was about His head — I thought the 
women were telling idle tales — but 'tis so, 'tis so ! 

JOHN — Peter, have they taken the body of Jesus 
away, or is He risen from the dead? 

PETER — Come, let us seek Joseph, who owns the 
garden. Perchance he knows what has come to pass. 
(They go out) 

(Mary Magdalene enters. Approaches tomb, weeping. 
Does not see angel) 

ANGEL — (Standing in doorway of tomb) Woman, 
why weepest thou? 

MARY MAGDALENE — Because they have taken away 
my Lord, and I know not where they have laid Him. 
(Turns to side) Hark! A foot-fall! What means this 
strange sweet thrill of holy fear? — Is't the gardner? 
— Gardner, sawest thou Him whom my soul loveth? 

VOICE — (From side) Woman, why weepest thou? 
Whom seekest thou? 

MARY MAGDALENE— (Aside) That voice?— That 
speech? — (Facing toward side) Sir, if thou have borne 
Him hence, tell me where thou hast laid Him, and I will 
take Him away! 

VOICE— (From side) "Mary!" 

MARY MAGDALENE — (Running toward side, then 
sinking on one knee) Rabbi, Rabboni! Master, my Mas- 
ter! 

VOICE — (From side) "Touch me not, for I am not 
yet ascended to my father; but go to my brethren and 

31 



say unto them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father, 
and to my God and your God." 

(Peter, John, Eli and women enter. Mary Magdalene 
runs to meet them) 

MARY MAGDALENE— I have seen the Lord! I have 
seen the Lord! 

SALOME — God be praised! We, too, have seen Him 
He lives and met us on the way! 

MARY JAMES— "All hail!," He cried, "All hail!" 

SALOME — And we fell at His feet — His pierced feet 
— and worshipped Him! 

MARY JAMES— But He said unto us, "Fear not!" 

SALOME — And we saw angels — two angels — at the 
tomb! 

MARY JAMES— One on either side, like the Cheru- 
bim % at the ends of the Mercy Seat! 

SALOME — Their faces were like lightning, and their 
raiment white as snow! 

MARY JAMES — Truly, the door of His tomb was like 
the gate of heaven! 

PETER — As Sampson rose up early and bore away the 
gates of Gaza, post and bar, even so rose our Master in 
the morning, and carried away the gates of death! 

MARY — He lives! He lives! Blessed be the God and 
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which hath begotten us 
again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus 
Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible 
and undefiled, that fadeth not away! 

ELI — (As if speaking to some one on side) Aha! 
Scribes, Pharisees, priests, ye could not hold Him! Un- 
done is all your work — He is risen! Come hither ye that 
derided Him, ye that scourged Him — bring now your 
thorns, your lash, your gallow's tree, and see what ye 
can do in this day of His glory! 

PETER — Father of Lights, make Him to be the Light 
of men, as Thou hast made the sun to be the light of 
the earth ! 

ELI — Hallelujah! The Lord God Omnipotent reign- 
eth! 

JOHN — Now is brought to pass the saying that is 
written, "Death is swallowed up in victory!" 

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PETER — death, where is thy sting? 

JOHN — O grave, where is thy victory? 

PETER — Thanks be to God which giveth us the victory 
through our Lord Jesus Christ! 

(While the rest of the characters enter, the three 
Marys step forward and sing a song of Easter tri- 
umph) 

MARY — (Steps forward toward audience) And now, 
ye people all, we ask your company. — Come with us and 
see the place where the Lord lay. — We speak to those 
that mourn and would be comforted. — Oh, ye weary 
ones, ye who are sad and disconsolate, come hither and 
see the place where the Lord lay — Ye have lost your 
loved ones, too, many of you — Ye have planted flowers 
on their graves — ye bedew the green mound with your 
tears. Why seek ye the living among the dead? The 
stone is rolled away — He lives, and ye shall live also — 
and your beloved shall live. — Come and see the place 
where the Lord lay. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in 
the dust! Hallelujah! Unto Him be glory and honor 
and power! Hallelujah! 

(All characters join in singing Hallelujah song, wav- 
ing evergreen branches in time to music) 

(Curtain) 



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